When I was the top-ranked U.S. collegiate tennis player, I had split sets during the finals of a major collegiate tournament. I was feeling that intense pressure to win. During the break before the final set my Arizona State coach, Anne Pittman, said to me: “Just remember – no matter what – we still love you.”   >> Read More

Winning is Great, but it’s Not the Goal

Recently the parent of an aspiring athlete told me it seemed “almost un-American” to say winning is not the goal. In fact, many would say we compete in a “win-at-all-costs” environment. Is this helping or hurting our kids’ performances and lives?   >> Read More

Get the Most Mileage from Mistakes and Losses

The best professional baseball players fail to get on base over 60% of the time. Elite soccer players fail on their attempts to score a goal an even higher percentage of the time. It’s reality -- the odds are stacked against us!  We are going to make mistakes and experience losses and failures frequently on the athletic field and in life.   >> Read More

Even a Little Praise Can Go a Long Way

“What do I have to live for – my best days are gone.” A former football player voiced this rather sad statement on a recent airing of “Real Sports.”  Bryant Gumbel’s television show exposed the challenges faced by many football players once they exit the limelight.  One year after retirement one third of former NFL players had emotional problems; 68% experienced anxiety.   >> Read More

It’s Scary to Be a Young Athlete

“Some young athletes experience an intense level of performance anxiety before competition. Christopher Andersonn, author of Will You Still Love Me If I Don’t Win? tells a compelling story about a young competitive swimmer who was so nervous he threw up before every competitive event. This swimmer’s dad attended all practices with a clipboard and two stopwatches around his neck.   >> Read More

For more details, contact Pam